Wichita eagle., 1887-08-20
WOMAN AND HOME.
HOW TO COMFORT THE STRANGER
WITHIN THE GATES.


Higher Education of Women-Thrift.
Calisthenics for Girls-Ohio Lava
sneering Observation-Disclosures Of
the Fork-OId Maids.
In these days of small houses and high
rents many of US cannot afford the luxury of
q spare room for visitors, for it is a luxury,
as all housekeepers know. An unexpected
guest comes late in the evening, perhaps, to
remain over night. The consciousness of q
room all ready for the strangers reception
lends a cordiality to our greeting that would
be palpably absent if the thought where the
guest would be put to woo the drowsy god
was racking our brain. If the visit should
extend over any length Of time, it will be
much more comfortable for both hostess and
guest if there can be a room given over en-
tirely to the visitor. In the morning, when
the hostess is busy with the various household
duties that claim her attention, the visitor
can entertain herself in her own room, either
reading or attending to her correspondence
or doing some fancy work, which we all
think it our duty to take away with US,
though we generally bring it back in its
pristine condition. the busy housewives
mind is thus relieved as to the entertainment
Of her guest, and she can attend to her do
mestic cares with a clear conscience.
In the furnishing Of this room we can in
dulge to the fullest extent our love fer fancy
things. In the rooms that are in use every
day this love has often TO be restrained, else
we would have to sacrifice too much time to
it, and unless we did sacrifice the time the
effect would be far from pleasing; but in this
room the articles are not often dsarranged,
and as it is not used except when we have
company, no time is wasted. Try by all
means to have lounge in the room, even if
you have to strain point. After you and
your friend have been shopping and sight
seeing the entire day, and perhaps have an
engagement for the entire evening if it is
possible for your guest to lie down for ten or
fifteen minutes, it will refresh her exceed
tngly; but if the bed is all dressed up in pill
low shams and sheet shams and spotless
counterpane, no matter how longingly she
may look at the bed, nor how much her weary
limbs may desire the repose, she will hesitate
long before she disturbs the bed, and in many
cases she will forgo the desired rest Just
think when you are visiting what affection
you bestow on lounge and how much it has
added to the enjoyment of your visit. Human
nature is the same the world over, and what
has added to your comfort and enjoyment
when away from home will have the same
effect on your guest.
If the size Of the room will not permit
lounge, well, then, retire the pillow and sheet
shaIns; throw nice bright afghan, either
knit or crocheted, over the foot of the bed, SO
that when your friend wants to take her
forty winks she can draw it up over her and
not disturb the bed A table with work
basket, well supplied with cotton, needles, a
thimble and scissors, is also necessity. The
visitors travelling bag ought to contain these
things but sometimes, in the hurry of pack
ing, they are overlooked, and when it is
necessary to repair some damage to the toilet,
unless the careful hostess has supplied the
omission, the guest is often put to consider
able Inconvenience. If you have stored any.
thing away in the drawers of the dressing
bureau, remove them all and leave the
drawers empty, and also the closet. If you
cannot conveniently give her the whole
closet, leave at least half the hooks free No
one likes to keep her dresses or wraps or
countless small 'fixins" with which your
guest, to do you honor, tries to make herself
beautiful, in a trunk or sachel.
A little wicker rocker would also meet with
general appreciation, and would more than
repay for its outlay by the homelike look it
would give the room. Little half curtains of
dotted swiss or scrim edged with lace are
pretty for the windows, and Madras long
curtains are very artistic. Which would be
preferable depends on the size and situation
of the room. The washstand should be sup
piled with plenty of towels and at least one
Turkish towel. These are so generally used
now that they seem almost indispensable.
The matchbox also should be seen to and a
for burnt matches supplied. A few
books that one can pick up at any time and
open anywhere should adorn the table. A
little care and forethought is all that is neces-
sary to make pleasant abiding place to your
friend, and you may be sure that it will not
be expended in vain. That is one of the things
In this world that your friends viii take cog
nizance Of and will publish abroad. Your
efforts, too, may be spur to those who make
their visitors lone of the family" in its most
sense. 1t is only right to make
your guest feel thoroughly at home; but there
are times when being regarded as one of the |
family has its disadvantages. Brooklyn Citi- |
zen